Turn Off the Cell Behind the Wheel - It is Literally a NO BRAINER! Gainesville Accident Attorney Explains

 
As a local accident attorney, I fully support the National Transportation Board’s (NTSB) recommendations to ban all forms of cell phone use, including hands-free systems and I urge you to too! 

Why?  The key to safe driving is focus on the road.  Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of vehicle crashes.  Some say as many as 80% of accidents are caused by distracted driving with cell phone use being the number one culprit. 

It has been proven over and over again, that chatting on your cell phone, hands-held or hands-free is the equivalent of driving drunk with a BAC of 0.08%, and makes you 4x’s more likely to be involved in a crash; texting and driving, 28x’s  Cell phone use causes a slower reaction time.  At the legal limit of alcohol consumption, or chatting on a cell phone, reaction times are 12% slower.  Texting while behind the wheel causes a 35% decrease in reaction time.

When you drive and talk on your cell phone it is the same as driving drunk with the BAC level of .08%, over the legal limit in Florida, and it does not matter if you are talking with hand-held or hands-free system.  As it is a brain thing not a hand thing!

What are the current laws?   Currently, only 9 states plus D.C. and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using hand-held cell phones and except for Maryland, it is a primary offense.  No states yet ban all cell phone (hand-held and hands-free) use, some do prohibit certain drivers such as new drivers and school bus drivers when kids are present.

Texting is banned for drivers in 32 states plus D.C. and Guam. Florida is one of only 6 states that at this time that has no laws banning any type of cell phone use, not even for school bus drivers!

What can you do? The NTSB does not have the ability to impose restrictions; however, its recommendations do carry weight with federal and state lawmakers.  I encourage everyone to contact their Florida legislators and tell them that they need to make our roads safer for ourselves, our families, our friends, our citizens, and our visitors – ban cell phone use behind the wheel!
  
“No call, no text, no update, is worth a human life."    Pass it on!  
 
Remember: No more excuses, facts are in once again - turn off the phone while driving!  Talk to your passenger, but not to a friend on your cell. Remember, it is a brain thing, not a hand thing! – A no brainer! 
 
For more information: 
Driving while celling, no matter if hands-free causes inattention blindness. 

National Safety Council calls for a nationwide ban on cell phone use while driving.

Driving and texting is a combination deadlier than drinking and driving and hopefully it will become illegal soon in all states.

We don’t have to wait for it to be law to turn off the cell phone while driving